In this Productivity like a Pro Podcast Episode by the Paperless Movement®, Tom Solid and Paco Cantero explore how busy professionals can master Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) using the ICOR® Framework. Paco, who manages four businesses without a personal assistant, demonstrates how a well-designed system can replace the need for constant human intervention in daily workflows.
Understanding the ICOR® Framework
The ICOR® Framework is a tool-agnostic methodology that helps busy professionals design, build, and implement a comprehensive productivity system. It divides productivity into four core areas: Personal Knowledge Management (PKM), Personal Project Management (commonly known as Task Management), Business Knowledge Management, and Business Project Management. This episode focuses on PKM, showing how to map out and refine the tools that support information management.
Mapping Your PKM Tool Stack
Paco shares his approach to identifying and organizing essential PKM tools. The process starts by listing all tools used for managing information, then evaluating their purpose and eliminating redundancies. Key tools highlighted include Tana, Heptabase, Readwise Reader, and MyMind. Each tool serves a specific function, from quick capture and deep thinking to visual thinking and inspiration sourcing.
A major takeaway is the importance of distinguishing between information created by oneself (the “inner world”) and information from external sources (the “outer world”). This separation reduces friction and enhances clarity in information retrieval and decision-making.
Community Insights and Tool Optimization
The Paperless Movement® community leverages the My ICOR® application to visualize and analyze their tool stacks. By mapping tools to specific categories and subcategories, members can quickly spot gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for optimization. The episode highlights how community data reveals trends, such as the popularity of Heptabase for visual thinking and Tana for quick capture and journaling.
Practical Takeaways for Busy Professionals
- Regularly review your tool stack to ensure each tool serves a clear, necessary purpose.
- Separate inner world (self-generated) and outer world (external) information for better clarity.
- Use visual frameworks like ICOR® to identify gaps and redundancies in your productivity system.
- Leverage community insights to make informed decisions about tool adoption and workflow design.
Level Up Your Productivity
If you’re ready to transform your productivity system and master areas like Note-Taking, Personal Knowledge Management, Task Management, and Project Management, join the Paperless Movement® Membership for access to comprehensive courses and a supportive community of busy professionals. Sign up here and start your journey to becoming a highly effective digital pro.
